8-8×8+8 Answer: What Is the Correct Solution?

The Internet-Breaking Math Puzzle: What Is the Answer to 8 - 8 × 8 + 8?

Every few weeks, a seemingly innocent arithmetic problem pops up on social media, instantly dividing comment sections into warring factions. Friends argue, strangers debate, and everyone claims absolute certainty.

One of the classic triggers for this kind of digital chaos is the expression:

8 - 8 × 8 + 8

At first glance, it looks like elementary school math. But why does it trip up so many adults? Let’s break down the math step-by-step to find the definitive answer and see where the traps lie.

The Golden Rule: Order of Operations

To solve this correctly, we have to rely on the universal rules of arithmetic known by acronyms like PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction).

The key takeaway from these rules is that multiplication and division always take precedence over addition and subtraction, evaluated from left to right.

Step 1: Handle the Multiplication

Looking at our expression (8 - 8 × 8 + 8), we spot the multiplication part right in the middle: 8 × 8.

• 8 × 8 = 64

Now, substitute that back into the equation. The expression transforms into:
8 - 64 + 8

Step 2: Addition and Subtraction (Left to Right)

With only subtraction and addition left, many people make the mistake of thinking addition always comes before subtraction. In reality, addition and subtraction have equal weight and must be performed strictly from left to right.

First, tackle the subtraction on the left:

• 8 - 64 = -56

Next, add the final 8:

• -56 + 8 = -48

Alternatively, you can group the positive numbers together first:

• (8 + 8) - 64 = 16 - 64 = -48

The correct answer is -48.

Where Do People Go Wrong?

If -48 is the mathematically sound answer, how do people end up with completely different results?

• The Left-to-Right Trap (0): Many people read the equation like a book, doing 8 - 8 = 0, then 0 × 8 = 0, and finally 0 + 8 = 8. This completely ignores the order of operations by performing subtraction before multiplication.
• The Grouping Mistake (64): Some viewers mistakenly group the latter half (8 × 8 + 8), leading to confusion about signs and negative numbers.

Why These Puzzles Go Viral

Expressions like 8 - 8 × 8 + 8 aren’t designed to test advanced mathematical genius; they are designed to exploit human cognitive shortcuts. Our brains love to simplify and rush through familiar numbers, especially when all the digits are the same. But math doesn’t care about shortcuts—it relies entirely on strict, unambiguous rules.

Next time this pops up on your feed, you’ll know exactly how to settle the debate!